Apparatus for measuring visibly the degree of tension on wire lines



APmRA rus FoR' MEASURING VISIBLY" THE DEGREE OF TENSIONOfi WIRE LINES Filed Nov. 19,1935 P :s Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Sept. 7, 1937 I I I I I A UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 arraaa'rosron MEASURING vls'rnmz run nacnaa or TENSIION N wmnmmis Joshua o. Conrad, Oklahoma city. Okla. Application November19, 1935, seri l No. 50,521 5 Claims. (Cl.;265-1.6)

This invention relates to apparatus for meas- Figure 6 is arear view of the dial. uringvisiblythe degree of tension on wire lines,. Figure '7 is a modified form of the invention cable and the like and it has particular reference showing a flexible connection between thindi- I to a device or instrument for determining instant: cator and operating mechanism.

ly the load carried by one or more cables used Figure8, is a fragmentaryplan view ofFigure 7. 5 especially in well drilling. l Figure9 is a plan view of the dial in transverse The principal object of the invention is to prosection showing the same as having a main and vide a calibrated dial having attendant mechaan auxiliary pointer. nism designed for connection to a cable, wire. Figure 10 is a further modified form of the in 10 line or the like, hearing the full weight of a load vention,. showing the indicator proper. as being which will reflect on said dial the exact weight operated from a remotepoint, and... I a I I of the load. I l I I Figure 11 is a plan view showing a recording Another object of the invention is to provide chart and stylus for making a permanent record I in said attendant mechanisma peculiarly shaped of the tension shown on the indicating dial.

i5 arm, the angular shape of which is instrumental Continuing with a more detailed description 15 in confining to a certain point in the length oi oi the drawings. l designates a frame having the cable, the weight of the load towhich the amend plate 2, the latter being provided with a cable is subjected and at this point, a measures1ot3 through which protrudes a rod 4. The rod ment ismade by the invention as to the actual 4 is capable of longitudinal movement and surweight of the load or the tension on the cable. rounding thesame is a spring 5 resisting such Another object of the invention is to provide, movement. The frame I. has a shell or housing as a part of the said attendant mechanism,.a l'rprovided with an opening for easy access to means to effect true registration of the pointer the working parts of the assembly enclosed in passing over the calibrated dial by removing all the housing, the said opening being provided with possible frictionlikely to interfere with accurate a pivoted closure l I I I indication. I I t It willbe noted in Figure 3 that the spring 5 Still another object of the invention is to prois disposed between the plate 2' and the washer 6, vide in an apparatus of the character specified, the latter reposing against lock nuts I which are means by which the actual and visibleindicatthreaded on the rod 4 and are therefore adjusting means may be disposed at a point remote able to efiect adjustment of the tensionon the from the cable from which theactual tensional spring 5. Other lock nuts 8 embrace a plate 9,

test is obtained. I I likewise arranged on the rod 4 and which pro:

Yet another object of the invention is to provides a connection between the rod and a gear vide an auxiliary pointer, in addition to thepoint rack in. See Figure 6. Reference to this conon the said calibrated dial for operation when nection will again be made presently. said dial is situated at a point remote from the Fixedly connected to the frame I is an angular operatorand by which certain limited and minor arm l I. One portion of the arm extendsoutvariations in cable tension'may be-instantly and. wardly from the frame and the other portion inremotely noted, such as caused by a slight elewardly and the latter portion is provided with vation of the drilling tools in a, well. I means. clevises b hic it, is-secured to a A still further object of. the invention is to cable Hi. th tension on which it is desired o.

provide means for securinga permanent record test or determine. I II I of the line tension continuously during drilling or I Figure 2 it w b v d. h t th l wer VI th perations 1 portion of the angular arm is provided with a With the foregoing objects as paramount, the 56116310! apertures a n which the clevises i2 invention has particular reference to its salientv y be adju t y d- T S a dJustment features of construction and arrangement. -of Sf01 the p p Varying/ the degree of tenparts, which will become manifest as the desion on the'cable l3 in accordance with the scription proceeds, taken'in connection with the calibrations l4 on a dial [5. over which moves the 5 accompanying drawings, wherein:- pointer i6, I I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention. l The rod 4 has a roller I! on its outer end Figure 2 is a side elevation. I which is grooved to embrace the cableas shown, Figure 3is a side elevation. thereby imposing on the spring 5 the weight I Figure 4 is a section on lines 4-4 on Figure 3. borneby the cable l3 and which is visibly com- 6 Figure 5 is a view on 1ines5-5 on'Figurc 3. .puted on the dial l5 through the connection ai- 5 forded, in the present case, by the rack l0 and cooperating'pinion I8, the latter being fixedly connected to the pointer shafti9. In other words, when the rod 4 moves longitudinally by reason of increased or decreased tension on the cable, the plate 8 imparts longitudinal movement to the rack it, which latter actuates the pointer IS. The spacing at the apertures a in the angular arm ii being accurately and predeterminately calculated in accordance with the calibrations on the dial, a skilled operator will know instantly in' what apertures the clevises are required to 'be inserted to retain the cable for proper tension measurement. The apertures, in the present case are spaced substantially to cover the following range: For four lines, or approximately'50,000 pounds, the cable is connected at-the apertures next adjacent the. top; for six lines, approximately 33,000 pounds, to the fourth or fifth set of apertures; for eight lines, 25,000 pounds, and so on, to lower sets of apertures.

Thus, the outward urge on-the frame is either increased or decreased, bringing about the required tension on the spring 5 to transmit motion to the indicator pointer which accurately and visibly denotes the weight carried by the line assembly. I

As a precaution against displacement, the invention provides a retainer for the rack iii to hold the same in operative relationship with the pinion l8, as shown in Figure 6. This retainer is in the form of an arm 20, urged by springs 2| against the rack. The arm 20 is pivoted at 22 to the underside of the dial l5. It will be understood' that by lifting the arm 20, the rack may be disengaged from the pinion to effect resetting of the pointer IS on the dial if and when this is required.

It will be noted that since it is desired to maintain the rod 4 at all times in centered relationship to the frame I, and since the tendency on the part of the cable I 3 is to urge the rod to an uncentered position, links 23 are provided and disposed to'carry the roller l1 therebetween and are adapted to hold the rod 4 in a central position in the slot 3 of the end plate 2 of the frame. Moreover, it is pointed out that a lubricating chamber 24 is provided adjacent the end of the frame i farthest from the cable l3. This lubricating chamber is comprised of the cross-members 24, stationary with the frame I and apertured to receive the rod 4 and through which the latter freely moves, the lubricant in the 'chamber being thus distributed on the rod to minimize frictional wear thereon.

In Figures 7 to 9 inclusive is shown a modified example of the invention inasmuch as the structure shown provides first, means by which the indicating dial may be located at a point distant from the operating mechanism, which must be connected to the cable whose tension is to be measured and second, a dial having two pointers, one indicating the weight at close range and an auxiliary pointer whose movement is substantially twice that of the first pointer for observation at points distant.

These modifications comprise a frame 25 not unlike the structure first defined, which has a rod 28 extending axially therethrough and spring actuated. To the rod is connected a plate 21 and to the plate in turn is connected a gear rack 28, parallel with the rod 26. A pinion 28 engages the rack and transmits its motion to a flexible drive cable 30 in a sheath 3|. The drive Ga e 30 is connected directly to the shaft carrying the pointer 32 which moves over the calibrated dial 33. By this arrangement, the dial housing 34 may be situated at a point remote from the frame 25 for convenience. V

In cases however where it is undesirable to employ the flexible drive just described, a dial-is provided with two pointers, one for close observation and another whose degree of movement is substantially greater than that of the first, for distant observation.

The pointer shaft 35, carrying the pointer 36, fixed to the shaft is rotated directly and at a 1:1 ratio by the rack 31 through the pinion 38. The other or auxiliary pointer 39 however is indirectly actuated through the gear train comprised of gears 40,-, 42, and 43. Gear 40 enmeshes gear 4| on stub shaft 44 which effects rotation of this shaft to rotate gear 42. The latter gear enmeshes and rotates gear 43 which, in turn rotates the'sleeve 46, freely mounted on the pointer shaft 35 and which carries the auxiliary pointer 39. Thus it will be seen that through this gearing arrangement the ratio is a multiple of a 1: 1,.between the pointers and the movements of pointer 39, being greater, may be better observed at points distant.

The modification of the invention shown in Figure 10 is comprised of the frame 41 and rod 48, under pressure of spring 49. This arrangement operates 'the same as the structure described except that a wire 50 is employed to transmit motion to the pointer 5i, passing over the dial 52.

The wire 50 is encased in the semi-flexible sheath 53 and is connected at one end to an arm 54, the latter in turn being joined to the rod 43. When the angular arm 55 is afllxed to the cable in a manner similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 3, tension on the cable will actuate the rod and move the arm 54. Thus the wire 50 is operated to axially move the rack 56 which engages the pinion 51 on the pointer shaft. The arrangement is such that the indicator proper may be disposed at any point of advantage regardless of the location of the cable providing a mounting for the remainder of the equipment.

Referring to Figure 11, it will be observed that the usual frame 58 is provided, through which passes the rod 59. The dial 60 is either mounted on the frame or disposed at a point remote, within easy view of the operator.

Mounted on the frame is a housing 6| having a door 62 provided with a glass covered window 63. Contained in the housing is a conventional type of recording mechanism including the calibrated recording chart 64. This chart is calibrated to accord with the calibrations on the large dial 60.

When tension on the cable actuates the angular arm 55, the rod 59 is operated to eifect movement of the pointer 68. Simultaneously, the stylus 61 moves on the revolving recording chart 64, impressing thereon an accurate and permanent indication of the degree of tension on the lines.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is considered within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to said cable and having a rod movably disposed longitudinally therein and engaging said'cable, link means to guide said rod in a substantially axially aligned position, spring means to normally urge said rod in a direction perpendicular to said cable, a rack carried by said rod, a pinion actuated by said rack and carrying a pointer, an elongate member affixed rigidly to said frame at a point spaced from the cable engaging point of said rod and having an angular surface over which said cable is disposed, adjustable means carried by the lower end of said member for imposing a strain on said cable at the point of contiguity with said angular surface, said memher having the effect of normally urging said frame away from said cable to effect movement of said pointer. l

2. An apparatus for measuring the degree of tension on a cable comprising in combination, a

therein engaging said cable, means to guide said first means to substantially central position relative to said frame, an elongate arm affixed to said frame and having an angular bend intermediate its ends over which said cable is secured, adjustable means to effect securement of said cable to a point on said arm below said bend whereby to urge said frame away from said cable, tension indicating means disposed on said apparatus, means connecting said indicating means and said first means whereby to indicate the degree of tension on said cable. 3. An apparatus for measuring the degree of tension on a cable comprising in combination, a frame and a rod normally under spring tension therein, a roller carried by said rod and engaging said cable, link means to guide said i. rod to substantially central position relative to said frame, an elongate arm affixed to said frame and having a bend in its major axis over which said cable is disposed, means on one side of said bend and engaging said cable and cooperating with said rod to impose a strain on said cable frame and means normally under spring'tension at its points of connection with said arm and having the effect of urging said frame away from said cable, a rack carried by said rod, a pinion actuated by said rack and carrying a pointer, and a calibrated dial over which said pointer moves to indicate changes in the tension on said cable.

4. An apparatus for measuring the degree of tension on a cable comprising in combination, a

frame disposed operatively at right angles to said cable, an arm affixed to said frame provided with spaced apertures and having a bend inter- -mediate its ends, clamping means by which said arm is secured to said cable whereby said cable will be constrained to follow the contour of said arm, a dial having calibrations corresponding to the spacing of the apertures in said arm, a pointer movable over said dial, a spring loaded rod also engaging said cable to apply thereto a tensional resistance against said angular arm, whereby to register on said dial the degree of tension on said test cable and means pivotally connected to said arm and to said rod to maintain centered position of the latter relative to said frame.

5. Apparatus for measuring the degree oftension on a cable comprising in combination, a frame having a rigid arm attachable to said cable provided with a series of apertures in spaced relationship and a bend intermediate its ends to secure variance in tensional strain on said cable, cable clamping means receivable in said apertures for adjustment, a spring pressed rod in said frame carrying a grooved roller to effect its connection to said cable at a point spaced from the point of securement of said angular arm to said cable, a dial having calibrations calculated according to the spacing of the apertures in said angular arm and provided with a pointer, and means controlled by said rod to effect movement of said pointer to indicate the degree of tension on said test cable.

JOSHUA C. CONRAD. 

